Although we thoroughly enjoyed our three-week winter break from college classes during our freshman year, my friends and I actually looked forward to returning to campus after the holidays. We all lived in different parts of the state, so we were excited to finally see each other again and spend time together.

Since our class schedules rarely lined up during the day, we always tried to meet for dinner multiple times throughout the week instead. With four different dining halls to choose from, we picked the largest and most centrally located one, just a five-minute bike ride from my dorm room.

Because of its size, that dining hall always had a wide selection of different food stations and entrées, including the permanent burger and grilled cheese counter, the long rows of salad bars, and the big dessert display full of sweets. With its location right next to the entrance, I usually glanced there first so I could figure out which treat I wanted by the end of our meal!

Yet during those first couple of weeks back after the very indulgent holiday season, I opted to skip the oversized slices of cake and pie. Instead, I stopped by the salad bar to grab a little bowl of strawberry yogurt, then headed over to the breakfast cereal bar for a scoop of granola, and finished at the soft-serve station for a little sprinkling of mini chocolate chips from the ice cream toppings. That not-so-sweet after dinner treat still hit the spot, and my friends and I actually continued to make yogurt parfaits for the rest of the year!

Just about everyone I know started classes again this week, whether grade school or college, and those dining hall memories resurfaced as I thought about my own undergraduate days. Yet instead of making a parfait like I did back then…

I turned my two favorite components, the granola and chocolate, into these Healthy Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Granola Bar Bites! They’re soft and chewy, naturally sweetened, and have lots of rich peanut and chocolate flavors. But unlike the dining hall granola, these snack bites contain no butter, oil, refined flour or sugar—and just 41 calories!

So let’s go over how to make these healthy chocolate chip peanut butter granola bar bites!

To make this recipe as easy as possible, you just need one bowl for prepping the ingredients. That’s it! I definitely love it when I end up with fewer dishes to wash…

And in that bowl, you’ll start by whisking together egg whites. That’s my secret ingredient for these healthy chocolate chip peanut butter granola bar bites! They hold together the rest of the ingredients without the need for any butter or oil, and they give your granola bars a protein boost, too.

Some people have asked me whether they’ll end up with bits of cooked egg in their granola bars… And the answer is no! When you use eggs in your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, you don’t end up with bits of cooked egg in your cookies, right? The same thing applies here!

Next, you’ll stir in homemade creamy butter and Greek yogurt. This is my super easy blender peanut butter recipe. You just need 5 minutes to make it! Then the Greek yogurt helps with the soft and chewy texture of these healthy chocolate chip peanut butter granola bar bites. Just like the egg whites, it also adds a protein boost!

Instead of refined granulated sugar, you’ll sweeten these with honey. My brother loved peanut butter + honey sandwiches as a kid (and refused to eat them with jam or jelly!), so I always think of him when using that flavor combination in recipes.

Time to add the cereals! Yes, plural. There are two of them! Old-fashioned oats and brown rice cereal. No, I’m not crazy… Even though some people probably beg to differ. ?

The crisp brown rice cereal helps these healthy chocolate chip peanut butter granola bar bites hold together better, and it also adds a nice texture contrast to the oats. Even better, it helps keep these granola bar bites low calorie too! (And if you check the label of store-bought granola bars, many of them include rice cereal too!)

Finally, you need my favorite component… Mini chocolate chips! I’m a huge chocoholic (I even published a chocolate cookbook!), so they’re the best part in my eyes. ? I usually save some to press into the tops just before baking for a pretty finishing touch!

Then just like that, you have a pan of healthy breakfasts or snacks! And when you make your own, remember to snap a picture and share it on Instagram using #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the photo itself! (That guarantees I’ll see your picture! ?) I’d love to see your healthy chocolate chip peanut butter granola bar bites!

These granola bar bites are perfect for meal prepping and quick grab-and-go breakfasts or snacks! They’re soft and chewy with lots of rich chocolate and comforting peanut flavors. Leftovers will keep for at least five days (if not longer!) if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 300°F, and coat an 8”-square pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk the egg whites. Stir in the peanut butter until completely incorporated. Stir in the Greek yogurt, honey, and salt, mixing until thoroughly combined. Stir in the rice cereal and oats. Gently fold in 1 ½ tablespoons of miniature chocolate chips.

Gently press the mixture into the prepared pan using a spatula, and gently press the remaining chocolate chips into the top. Bake at 300°F for 11-14 minutes or until the center feels firm to the touch. Cool completely to room temperature in the pan before slicing into squares.

Notes:This is my homemade creamy peanut butter recipe. You just need 5 minutes and a blender to make it! If you prefer using store-bought, then make sure the only ingredients are peanuts and salt. Do not use crunchy peanut butter.

Regular crisp rice cereal (like Rice Krispies) may be substituted for the brown rice cereal. In a pinch, lightly crushed rice pocket cereal may also be substituted.

Instant oats may be substituted for the old-fashioned oats. Do not substitute steel-cut oats.

Remember to measure the brown rice cereal and oats correctly, using this method or a kitchen scale. (← That’s the one I own and love!) Too much of either ingredient will dry out the batter, and the ingredients won’t fully incorporate. If this happens to you, then add 1-2 tablespoons of milk (any type will work!) until all of the ingredients can be fully incorporated.

I do not recommend substituting regular-sized chocolate chips. Their bigger size causes the granola bar bites to fall apart. If you only have regular-sized chocolate chips, then chop them with a knife first!

These granola bars look delicious, Amy! I’m always snacking on the go so these are just the perfect healthy treat for me. I’d love to experiment using different types of granolas and chucking new flavours in there too! But peanut butter and chocolate is always a winning combination…

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